cellphones in church

The Presbyterians have found an answer to electronic use during church. You may witness their presbyterian service announcement here.

That most Presbyterians are Calvinists, I'm trying to figure out where providence, sovereignty and election fit in with electronic usage. Maybe that will come in the second psa.

this american life

This American Life radio show featured the municipal madness that is Trenton, New Jersey. I consider Trenton my adopted hometown. And, I know most of the folks in the piece. I played basketball with Lt. Mark Kieffer; Michael Walker was a neighbor; Marge Caldwell-Wilson was a campaign supporter.

You can listen to the piece here; it's the first act.

As a companion, Trenton's public buildings were, until today, mired in tp-gate. To read more about this, go here.

Joel on Lent

The lectionary reading for Ash Wednesday in this high, holy season of Lent came from Joel 2.1-2, 12-17. Dennis Olson, a former pastor and current professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, provided some commentary on this scripture reading at workingpreacher.com. His reflections at the end of the piece I believe provide us with six critical insights about Lent.

1. Judgment is coming.
2. God calls us to repent.
3. God's call to repentance comes out of love.
4. God loves us freely.
5. The time to respond is now.
6. As we repent, we pray that others respond to this call as well.

I think that sums up what these 40 days are about.

Real estate bubble hits churches

Church foreclosures are on the rise.

non-profits, community and taxes

Interesting piece on cash-strapped Providence, R.I., and a main resident, Brown University.

the new black theology

Good piece from our own Dr. Tran in The Christian Century which you may read here.

Happy Birthday Charles Dickens

Click here to see how Dickens' Brits are celebrating his 200th birthday.

For the record, my favorite Dickens work is A Tale of Two Cities. "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known."